Bartholomew Cubbins on Autism

The Neurobiology of Autism - conference notes

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:38:44 -0500

These are some verbal notes from a recent meeting I attended. There are some pictures, but it's mostly an audio thing. One thing I forgot to note was that in the Mirror Neuron presentation, an experiment was discussed that focused on sarcasm and the ability of an ASD child to "get it". "A balloon, oh great." Said by 2 different people means two entirely different things depending upon the tone. One person is excited about the balloon and the other is expressing disappointment following the balloon having popped. The ASD kid doesn't pick up on the meaning unless s/he's told to pay attention to the tone prior to hearing the phrase. Only then does the ASD kid "get it" and the appropriate spots light up on the MRI.

Running time - a 22 minute beast that I failed to get under 10 minutes for youtube consumption.

For Quicktime version, click here(pops)

It's pretty rough, but Bonferroni and Venn have been taking up much of my non-sleeping time lately. Enjoy.

From the IOM: an N of 1; Ep 31

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:55:41 -0500

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For quicktime format click here

running time = 6m 21s

Part 2: Verbal Notes from an Autism Conference, BC on Autism Ep 30

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:45:19 -0500

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Part 2: Rett syndrome and an overview by Mehlmer

Again, more of an audio thing.

Running time ~8 minutes

Verbal Notes from an Autism Conference Part 1: BC on Autism Ep 29

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:45:40 -0500

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Here is the verbal version of my notes on several talks at an autism conference last December. It's more of an audio thing to be honest.

BC on Autism 28: Bipolar Autism Speaks

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:45:55 -0500

Autism Speaks is trying to be the voice in the autism community but I want to focus on two of its members: Kevin Barry and Dr. Andrew Shih. Kevin Barry is a consultant and a lawyer who is a mercury enthusiast whereas Dr. Shih seems to be a straight-up scientist. Guess which one has a real problem with Roy Grinker's latest book that challenges the notion that there's an autism epidemic? I'll give you a hint: the other one bodyslams Montel Williams on his own pathetic show.

Running time is ~ 7 minutes. Enjoy.

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It appears that Kevin Barry of Autism Speaks is having some fun with rallying the troops to disparage Roy Grinker's new book. What a loser. Dr. Grinker really stepped into a pit of vipers. The silent majority is behind you, Dr. Grinker.

Click here for the QuickTime version.

BC on Autism 27: California isn't special

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:46:15 -0500

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David Kirby tries to reduce the impact of the fact that the California autism rates aren't going down in accordance with a severely reduced exposure to Thimerosal by claiming that California is different because California is getting poisoned by mercury from China.

What a load.

Running time ~ 10 minutes.

Click here for the QuickTime version (pops)

BC on Autism Ep 26: Revisiting Burbacher 2005

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:46:40 -0500

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There has been a number of people touting this paper yet only a few have really read it. Here's the paper in pictures. In short, only about half of the real experiment was done. I can't speculate why the authors stopped short, but I can say that their decision renders this paper almost worthless.

Running time ~ 10 min

Click here to get the QuickTime version

BC on Autism 25: Brian Deer Shines a Light on the Big Money Earners of the MMR Scare

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:46:59 -0500

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Click here for QuickTime version

Wow. Brian Deer really shows us just how much money someone can make in generating panic over nonsense. One guy in particular is reported to have pulled in almost a million US dollars. I'm in the wrong business.

BC on Autism 24: Microarray, Schmicroarray

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:47:18 -0500

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A quick look at a paper which allows me to launch into my favorite criticisms of microarray data. In short, most people doing Affy arrays don't have any idea what they're doing. Good for Affy. Bad for science. Bad for the public. These guys even try to pull in autism into their analysis. Blech.

Running time ~7min

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: science, autism, rna, microarray, blood

Is DMSA/Succimer use in the absence of high lead a dangerous experiment? BC on Autism Ep 23

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:47:40 -0500

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A recent paper caught my eye since it claimed that the use of the chelation agent, DMSA/Succimer, may contribute to cognitive deficits if used in the absence of lead contamination of an animal model.

This is a good paper, but I'm just not entirely convinced the the data. Dunno, maybe it's just me. The bottom line is that if one is convinced by their data that succimer treatment can alleviate lead-induced cognitive deficits, then I believe that one has to be convinced by their data that succimer treatment in the absence of lead contamination induces cognitive defects itself - that's a huge and scary statement.

Check it out.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Tags: dmps, chelation, autism, experiment, science, succimer

Frosted mini RNA, a cure for Autism: BC on Autism Ep 22

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:48:02 -0500

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Two different short bits dealing with RNA and autism. One funny and tasty, the other dealing with an ill-informed (euphemism) money hound. In part 2, the individual actually uses the recent awarding of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of RNAi to help drum up some dollars for the Drinkee Drinkee Cure Autism RNA lady.

Runtime is 10 minutes.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Tags: skeptic, rna, science, autism, salesman

BC on Autism Ep 21: Hey, hey, it's EDTA

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:44:20 -0600

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Just a quick accompaniment to a great article at Autism Street delivering some punishing blows to those who are pushing EDTA chelation therapy for autism despite the amazing health risks involved, risks that have been known and admonished by the government for over 30 years.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Running time = 10 minutes

My previous stuff on chelation:

Chelation part 1 (mov)

same but small 3GP format

Chelation part 2 (mov)

same small 3GP format

BC on Autism 20: What do I do for therapy?

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:48:39 -0500

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I get asked all the time about what therapies or interventions I use for our child. Outside of school we simply live life. That's it, but here are some snippets.
Run time is 4min 44sec.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Advertising Techniques, RNA, and Autism: BC on Autism Ep 19

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:48:54 -0500

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This is it, my heart can't take any more of this talk about RNA curing Autism. No amount of ribobabies could get me to do any more. So here's the last bit I have to say about it. If you buy it and drink it, well, it's on you. But please, spare the kids.

Other Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

BC on Autism 18: Gettin' the RNA Out (of yeast)

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:49:16 -0500

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Q: Why would anyone want to get the RNA out of yeast so they can ingest it?

A: I don't know, but I know it won't cure Autism.

Here's how to do it...

Running time: ~3 minutes

Click here for Quicktime (pops)

BC on Autism 17: A PCR Primer

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 10:10:55 -0500

Click icon for flash version.

click here for Quicktime version (pops)

Why do some people find measles virus RNA anywhere they look and then link the MMR to autism?? Hmmmm...

A look at how bad PCR can fuel an MMR conspiracy theory.

running time ~10 min

Ep 16 Part A: Deeper into the RNA Quagmire

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:49:39 -0500

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I simply had to go to the source of information about RNA drops curing autism and boy, oh boy. A feller could have an entire blogging career taking these sales pamphlets / presentations / mockery of science apart, piece by piece.

btw, I guess last week's injesting/ingesting/in-jesting fun was either too low-brow or too brief. Come on and give me some affirmation love. Maybe more voice-over video fun is the ticket, but it'll have to wait until this RNA drop series is done.

running time: ~9m 30sec

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

BC on Autism Episode 15: RNA Quackery: Shaken, Not Stirred

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:50:05 -0500

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Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)
running time = 7m 11sec or so.

Why the blazes would you ever want to put a mole of nucleotides or oligonucleotides into your mouth? Very simple: because you've been told it'll cure autism, that's why. It'll also cure heavy wallet syndrome, and who really wants a big old lump in your back pocket making the derrier look all lopsided and such? Just a quick look at pH and RNase-induced transesterification. Remember, you have a filthy mouth, whether you swear like Cartman or not.

For the RNAphiles, I'm not even getting into depurination or anything. Just the basics.

BC on Autism Episode 14: From Chelation Quackery to RNA Quackery

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 08:59:42 -0500

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Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)
runtime = 1min 11sec
Just some fun with an old JB vid. Had to get this out of my system before I get into some papers and RNA quackery debunking mode.

BC on Autism Episode 13: Institutional Affiliation Oddities

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 19:54:23 -0500

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Which university are you working for?

BC on Autism Episode 11: 2 Angry guys

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:50:57 -0500

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Anger, anger everywhere, and not a drop to drink.

BC on Autism Episode 12: Trolling for... why do they troll?

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:51:23 -0500

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What does trolling achieve? Self-gratification is the only thing I can think of.

Memorial to a murdered autistic 3 year old

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Wed, 24 May 2006 08:30:59 -0500

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Guilt: It's the Arrogance of Me versus the Acceptance of We

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Wed, 24 May 2006 08:28:52 -0500

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I've swung hi and low on the cure / notcure scale and on the who and/or what made my kid autistic scale. What I've come to realize that the only way to be at peace is to accept, which is not synonymous to giving up on someone.

I'm using this as a preview before tomorrow's blogging about murder.

/hiatus complete

bartholomew.cubbins@gmail.com (BC on Science) — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:44:39 -0600

BC on Autism Episode 10: If I were a cartoon

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The idea of simple, pointless cartoons as stress release has been percolating in my mind for some time now. The punchline, if it can be called such, is blatantly stolen from some forgotten cartoon. Either that, or I've deluded myself into thinking I saw it somewhere before. Meh.